the greenhouse roof went up today. not without problems. first problem was figuring out how to get the plastic up there. i ended up cutting a 12 foot 2x4 in half (this is half the length of the greenhouse) and wrapping one end of the plastic around it a couple times. then i took my 50 foot extension cord and sandwiched it between the other half which i screwed into the first. this created a 12' wide "sled" that i could pull up over the top. so i threw the other end of the extension cord over the top and began pulling. this worked really well at first, but getting to the top it began to rip the plastic. i realized at this point that i needed a ridge pole to spread the load and help the plastic skid over the top. so i installed a ridge. this wasn't easy with all the plants below and the ladders listing in the soft soil and the incredible heat under the plastic! same tearing problem occurred at the "eaves". so had to install skidders there as well. luckily i had enough plastic to pull most of the rips down to the ground level where they didn't matter so much. i still need to put the ends on and install some vents. i bought automatic vent openers that will close the vents when it's cold and open when hot.
thanks to bert, wally and randy for helping out. this was definitely not a one person project!
Monday, September 05, 2005
roof on
the greenhouse roof went up today. not without problems. first problem was figuring out how to get the plastic up there. i ended up cutting a 12 foot 2x4 in half (this is half the length of the greenhouse) and wrapping one end of the plastic around it a couple times. then i took my 50 foot extension cord and sandwiched it between the other half which i screwed into the first. this created a 12' wide "sled" that i could pull up over the top. so i threw the other end of the extension cord over the top and began pulling. this worked really well at first, but getting to the top it began to rip the plastic. i realized at this point that i needed a ridge pole to spread the load and help the plastic skid over the top. so i installed a ridge. this wasn't easy with all the plants below and the ladders listing in the soft soil and the incredible heat under the plastic! same tearing problem occurred at the "eaves". so had to install skidders there as well. luckily i had enough plastic to pull most of the rips down to the ground level where they didn't matter so much. i still need to put the ends on and install some vents. i bought automatic vent openers that will close the vents when it's cold and open when hot.
thanks to bert, wally and randy for helping out. this was definitely not a one person project!
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How are your garden and potty doing?
Home, we are upgrading our garden with compost and mulch that I put out before we left.
WONDERFUL compost cooked with no help or turning in our absence. Tho I anticipate we may take more effort in turning compost in this batch. To avoid the side areas having to be recomposted.
We have started 5 new bins! Lots of trimming yet to do, so all bins should be full and cooking before we leave in December for our long planned and anticipated holiday trip to Latin America for the holidays.
Will report in on it upon our return.
Still enjoying your blog.
Phyllis
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